MLSA Co-Director Veysel Ok Dedicates GGC's Press Freedom Award to Imprisoned Journalists

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey — The 37th edition of the 'Traditional Successful Journalists of the Year Awards,' organized by the Southeastern Journalists' Association (GGC), took place this year. Co-Director Veysel Ok, representing the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), received the prestigious Press Freedom Award on behalf of imprisoned journalists.

The award ceremony took place at GGC's headquarters in Sümerpark, Diyarbakır. It was attended by a group of people, including Gazete Duvar's Editor-in-Chief Barış Avşar, the President of the Federation of Journalists of Turkey Yılmaz Karaca, Diyarbakır MPs from the Green and Left Party, CHP, and AKP, along with representatives from civil society, professional organizations, political parties, public institutions' executives, and many journalists.

During the opening speech, GGC President Mücahit Ceylan dedicated the award night to the memory of journalists who lost their lives in the earthquakes that struck Kahramanmaraş on February 6, as well as to the late GGC Honorary Member Raif Türk, who passed away due to health issues. Ceylan emphasized that the awardees were not only acknowledged for their professional excellence but also for their courage and sacrifices. He drew attention to the challenges faced by journalists, particularly the economic difficulties and digitalization threatening the existence of local media, stressing the need for support in sustaining local journalism.

Following the speeches, the awards were presented to the deserving journalists.

Veysel Ok, while receiving the GGC Press Freedom Award on behalf of MLSA, expressed his gratitude, stating, "It is a profound honor for me to receive an award from the city where I was born and raised. We have tirelessly championed freedom of expression and advocated for imprisoned journalists. I felt it was imperative to acknowledge them at this moment. I extend my warmest wishes for the release of Sedat Yılmaz, Dicle Müftüoğlu, Barış Pehlivan, Merdan Yanardağ, Abdurrahman Gök, and the 52 other imprisoned journalists. This award is dedicated to them."

The list of award winners in various categories is as follows:

Turkish Print Media Category (Newspaper/Magazine)

News Branch:

• First Place: İHA's Rıdvan Yeşilırmak for the news report 'Heartbreaking Scenes at the Cemetery of Those Who Died in the Earthquake.'

• Honorable Mention: Fuat Bulut from Güneydoğu Ekspres Newspaper for his report '82 Live Bombs in Bağlar.'

Internet News Branch:

• First Prize: Ilyas Akengin from Amida News for the news report 'Selahattin Demirtaş Was Brought to Diyarbakır.'

• Honorable Mention: Norşin Öncel from Tigris Newspaper for her news report 'He Gave 9 Years to Mussels, But He Could Never Eat Mussels.'

Internet Interview Branch:

• Adil Batmaz from Gazete Duvar for the report 'The Digger Operator of the Cemetery in Adıyaman: We Buried 150 People at a Time, I Can't Sleep.'

• Honorable Mention: Şirin Bayık from Artı Gerçek for her news report 'Monopolization in Şırnak Coal: All the Money Goes to One Person.'

Education News Branch:

• First Prize: Yakup Sağlam and Mücahit Kantarcıoğlu from İHA for their news report 'Girls Succeeded; Their Destiny Will Change with Education.'

• Honorable Mention: Bestami Bodruk and Ömer Yasin Ergin from AA for their news report 'Teachers Storyteller Grandma and Müciddin.'

Economy News Branch:

• First Prize: Mahir Solmaz from How an Economy Newspaper for his news report 'Construction Will Be a Bridge Between Canada and Turkey.'

Culture and Arts News Branch:

• First Prize: Muhammed Hüseyin İçli from İHA for his news report 'His Unfinished Life Story Became a Movie.'

• Honorable Mention: Ahmet Kaplan and Ekrem Payan from AA for 'Uncle Aziz Has Been Wearing Colorful Clothes for 10 Years.'

Sports News Branch:

• First Prize: Mehmet Sıddık Kaya from AA for his news report 'Success from Shepherd to World Cup.'

Health News Branch:

• First Place: İHA's Rıdvan Kılıç for his news report '427 Patients Who Underwent Endoscopy in 17 Years Could Not Be Diagnosed.'

• Honorable Mention: İHA's Muhammed Ali Çiftçi for his news report 'Adopted the Protector, Became a Foster Mother.'

Page Layout Branch:

• First Place: Nermin Zengin from Güneydoğu Ekspres Newspaper.

• Honorable Mention: Nimet Dal from Batman Demokrat Newspaper.

Photography Category:

• First Prize: AA's Rıdvan Korkulutaş for the photo 'The Excitement of Skiing in Bingöl Continues in Spring.'

• Honorable Mention: AA's Aydın Arık for the photo 'Total Fight Against Earthquake.'

Television Category:

Television News Branch:

• TRT World's Jaffer Hasnain and Faruk Yüce for the report 'The Story of Baran Who Survived in the Rubble for 7 Days.'

• Reuters' Umit Ozdal for the report '7.9-Magnitude Earthquake in Central Turkey.'

• Honorable Mention: A Haber's Sinan Yılmaz and Mehmet Sıddık Bilge for the report 'He Went to the Earthquake Zone to Help, His Leg Was Broken But He Did Not Leave the Rubble.'

Drone Study Branch:

• UAV's Kamil Can Kılıç for the drone work on 'Kömürhan Bridge.'

• TRT's Serdar Topdemir for 'Drone Images of Eastern and Southeastern Cities.'

Camera Work Branch:

• Waar Tv's Atilla Görür for 'Çınar.'

• Honorable Mention: Artı Gerçek TV's Mizgin Tabu for 'The Struggle of İkizköy Women for Akbelen Forest.'

TV Program Branch:

• Amed Tv's Nesrin Erdoğmuş for 'One Voice One Breath' program.

Kurdish Category:

Kurdish News Branch:

• Kurdistan 24's Mahir Yüksek and Hakan Erkıran for the report 'Li Gündeki Ji 55 Avahiyan 52 Avahi Ruxeyane.'

• TRT Kurdi's Necati Seyitoğlu for the news report 'Fedekariye Zımane Kurdi.'

Kurdish Documentary Branch:

• Rudaw's Mehmet Kanevi for the documentary 'Gol Gola Qulanga.'

• Rudaw's Şevket Herki for the documentary 'A Century-Old Mill.'

Kurdish TV Program Branch:

• TRT's Barış Uzal for 'Sosin' program.

• Rudaw's Abdulsselam Akinci for 'Bername' program.

Sport Program Branch:

• TRT Kurdi's Ahmet Altaş for 'Z Football' program.

Radio Category:

• TRT GAP Radio's Gülistan Fırat for 'Regional Agenda' program.

• Can Radio's Leyla Irmak for the program 'Kaniya Dengbejan.'

GGC Special Award:

• NTV Cameraman İbrahim Ateşoğlu for his contributions to Diyarbakırspor with his book 'Stars of the Orient.'

• Al Jazeera Turkey Producer Yilmaz Akinci for his book 'Peşimdeki Melek.'

• TV100 News Anchor Erdoğan Aktaş.

• TGRT News Anchor Tuna Öztunç.

• CNN Turk News Anchor Semiha Şahin.

• NTV News Anchor Burcu Kaya.

• CNN Turk Reporter Fulya Öztürk.

GGC Jury Special Award:

• Given on behalf of journalists who lost their lives in earthquakes.

GGC Loyalty Award:

• GGC Honorary Member Raif Türk.

GGC Press Freedom Award:

• Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA).